Characterization of the sclerotization enzyme(s) in locust cuticle

Locust cuticle is able to catalyze the oxidation of ortho- and para-diphenols and also the release of tritium from the sidechain of N-acetyldopamine. The enzymatic activities in the intact cuticle have been characterized and compared. Their properties are very similar, and the possibility cannot be excluded that a single enzyme is responsible for all the observed reactions.